The Schedule
No. 22 UCLA
Friday, May 14 at 6:00 PM at Jackie Robinson Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif.
Saturday, May 15 at 2:00 PM at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium in Santa Barbara, Calif.
Sunday, May 16 at 2:00 PM at Jackie Robinson Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif.
The Series
In its first non-conference action since mid-March UCSB will face No. 22 UCLA in a three-game home-and-home series with the Gauchos hosting Saturday's contest at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium. The Bruins come into the weekend with a 28-15 overall record having just defeated LMU 9-8 in a midweek matchup yesterday and taken two of three from Washington State this past weekend. They will ride a three-game win streak into the series.
Gauchos on the Air
Games one and three will be aired live on Pac-12 Plus with Saturday's game being covered on Big West TV. Additionally, Kevin Cannon and Spencer Stewart will have an audio-only cast for all three games. Live stats will be available on UCSBGauchos.com
Probable Starters
Fri: RHP Michael McGreevy (6-1, 2.96) vs. RHP Zach Pettway (1-3, 3.63)
Sat: LHP Rodney Boone (8-3, 2.47) vs. RHP Sean Mullen (8-1, 2.90)
Sun: RHP Cory Lewis (4-3, 3.76) vs. RHP Jesse Bergin (4-3, 4.66)
Current Streaks
Christian Kirtley – Has reached base safely in 20 straight games
Marcos Castanon – 11 game hit streak
Cole is Crushing
Third baseman Cole Cummings has been the face of consistency for the Gauchos this year having reached base safely in 44 of the 46 games played this season. He eHecurrently leads the conference with 32 walks, ranks second with 43 runs scored, third with 15 doubles, and fourth with 59 hits. He recently etched his name into the Gaucho history books collecting a program-best five walks in a single game vs UC San Diego.
Freshman on Fire
Leading the conference in RBI this season is none other than true freshman outfielder Zach Rodriguez, who paces the Big West with 40. He also ranks third in hits (60) and HBP (14) and is fourth in home runs (7) and batting average (.375), and total bases (92).
Sprinkle it On
One of the top young shortstops in the conference, Jordan Sprinkle has emerged as a reliable spark plug for the Gauchos this year at the plate and on the basepaths. He currently leads the conference by a fair margin with 20 stolen bases this year.
Additionally, the middle infielder is also second in hits (62), third in runs (40), fifth in batting average (.365), third in total bases (94), sixth in doubles (13) and eighth in slugging (.553).
On the Mound
UCSB prides itself on strong defense and pitching, leading the Big West Conference in strikeouts (477) and opposing batting average (.232). They also boast the second-best team ERA of 3.83 and have allowed the second fewest doubles and the third fewest triples.
Much of this comes from the dynamic duo of sophomores Michael McGreevy and Rodney Boone, who are ranked first and second in the conference with 88 and 86, respectively. Boone is sixth in the nation with eight wins and is third in the conference with a 2.47 ERA. McGreevy is second in the nation with an 11.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio and is sixth in the conference with a 2.96 ERA.
Big Bats
The Gauchos have been getting it done at the plate this season leading the Big West in several major offensive categories. This includes hits (444, runs (308), home runs (46), doubles (84), slugging percentage (.442), stolen bases (68), sac flies (25) and total bases (696). They are also second in the league with 15 triples and third with 173 walks.
Mortensen Mashes
First-year Gaucho Broc Mortensen has made his presence felt in his first season with UCSB ranking first in the conference in HBP (16), second in home runs (10), fourth in runs (36), and fifth in RBI (35).
McGreevy Earns Pair of Weekly Awards After 15-Strikeout Performance
After another incredible Friday start, Michael McGreevy was rewarded earning the Big West Pitcher of the Week award and being named one of Collegiate Baseball's National Players of the Week.
The sophomore slinger took the mound in game one of UCSB's series with Cal Poly this past weekend and fell just one short of tying the program's all-time strikeout record, fanning 15 batters in eight innings of work. He struck out at least one Mustang in every inning and multiple batters in the first six, including striking out the side in the fifth.
McGreevy is the first Gaucho to have a 15 K game and it is the fourth best performance in program history behind only Mario Hollands (2010), Barry Zito (1997), and Walt Rehm (1970) who each threw 16.
McGreevy gave up no walks and only allowed one player to reach base on him all night, allowing Cal Poly's Tate Samuelson two hits and a run.
He now joins Rodney Boone as one of just three pitchers in the conference to earn Big West Pitcher of the Week twice this season. He is the second player to be named to Collegiate Baseball's National Players of the Week after Jordan Sprinkle earned the nod in April.
Boone and McGreevy Named to Pitcher of the Year Award Watch List
Both Rodney Boone and Michael McGreevy of No. 25 UC Santa Barbara baseball have been named to the College Baseball Foundation's 2021 Pitcher of the Year Award watch list, the organization announced Tuesday.
The list features 44 of the top pitchers in DI college baseball and the Gauchos are just one of six teams in the nation to have two different players named. Boone and McGreevy are the two sole representatives from the Big West Conference. Boone was also recently named to the Golden Spikes midseason watch list, while McGreevy was on the preseason list.
Sprinkle Named to Collegiate Baseball's National Players of the Week List
After an incredible performance on the field for Jordan Sprinkle against UC San Diego, the young Gaucho was named to Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's National Players of the Week list. This feat comes just days after being named to the Brooks Wallace Award watch list, which is given to the nation's top shortstop.
Sprinkle went 10-for-18 posting a team-high .526 batting average in the team's series win over UC San Diego. He tallied three doubles, two homers, seven RBI, nine runs, and went 5-for-5 on stolen bases as well. He collected a hit in each game and saw three multi-hit efforts.
In game three he etched his name in the Gaucho history books tying the all-time program record with 12 total bases. He also became the first Gaucho to hit back-to-back home runs since Austin Bush in 2017 and the first to notch a six-RBI game since Andrew Calica in 2015. Sprinkle went a perfect 4-for-4 with four runs, the two homers, a double, four runs, and six RBI.
No. 300
Head coach Andrew Checketts earned his 300th career win in the team's 11-4 win over Cal State Fullerton on Saturday, March 20, 2021. He became the fourth Gaucho head coach to reach the milestone and still stands as the coach with the highest winning percentage in program history with a 319-196-4 record for a .617 mark
McGreevy Named Big West Pitcher of the Week
A stellar performance on the mound in the Hawai'i series earned Michael McGreevy the Big West Pitcher of the Week award. He becomes the fifth different Gaucho to bring home a weekly honor this season and it is the sixth award the team has tallied.
On April 2, McGreevy took the bump in the series opener on the island at Hawai'i and single-handedly shut the Rainbow Warriors down tossing a complete-game shutout. He only allowed three hits, not walking a single batter, as the Gauchos took the game 3-0. His 10 strikeouts tie a career-high, which he set just two weeks prior.
After allowing a single in the first, the sophomore righty retired the next eight UH batters in order and only allowed two more singles in the rest of the contest. He faced just 29 batters and retired the final nine Rainbow Warriors to end the game.
Another One
Another week, another award for Rodney Boone. The sophomore southpaw earned his third career Big West Pitcher of the Week honor on March 29. He becomes the first repeat winner this season after earning the nod on March 1 as well.
Boone helped the Gauchos to a seven-inning run-rule win over UC Davis this past weekend, tossing a complete game shutout. He allowed just two hits and a walk while striking out six
Mortensen Named Big West Field Player of the Week
Broc Mortensen was named Big West Field Player of the Week, after an outstanding series vs Cal State Fullerton. He is the third different Gaucho to earn the honor so far this season.
The junior transfer had his presence felt this past weekend as he competed in his first ever Big West series. Mortensen posted a .500 batting average with three home runs, three doubles, and nine RBI. He had eight total hits and touched home six times.
His biggest game came in the final matchup of the series when he went 3-for-4 with two homers, a double, five RBI, and three runs. All of the marks led the team.
If that wasn't enough, Mortensen came up clutch stepping to the plate with one on and one out in the top of the ninth blasting a homerun over the right field fence to send the game into extra innings.
This is the first Big West honor of his young Gaucho career.
Boone and Castanon Sweep Weekly Big West Awards
Marcos Castanon and Rodney Boone swept the weekly Big West awards after helping the Gauchos to a perfect 4-0 weekend against Pepperdine. Castanon earned his first career Big West Field Player of the Week award, while Boone picked up his second Big West Pitcher of the Week award.
After seeing his fellow middle-infielder, McClain O'Connor, earn the title week one, Castanon decided it was only right to keep the crown at UCSB. The junior posted a team best .438 batting over the weekend and collected two home runs, six runs, and nine RBI. He had three multi-hit games and has had at least one hit in all seven games this year.
Boone was dominant in his start in game two of the Saturday doubleheader tossing six innings of hitless baseball. The lefty allowed just three walks, struck out six, and retired 11 of the first batters he faced. He currently leads the Big West with a 2-0 record, a 0.00 ERA, 15 strikeouts, and a .057 opposing batting average.
O'Connor Named Big West Field Player of the Week
McClain O'Connor earned his first career Big West Field Player of the Week award after a phenomenal outing in the season opening series against Santa Clara.
The senior shortstop posted a 4-for-9 performance with four runs, seven RBI, and a stolen base. Each of his four hits went for extra bases notching two doubles, a triple, and a 413 ft. home run, giving him a 1.222 slugging percentage. He also posted a .444 batting average with a .462 on-base percentage.
He seemed to improve with every game collecting the doubles in game one, the triple in game two, and the homer in the final game.
He's BacK
After missing the 2020 season due to recovering from Tommy John surgery, closer Christopher Troye did not miss a step in his first return to the mound in 632 days. The righty was dominant striking out the side in the ninth inning of game three vs. Santa Clara to earn his first career save and hand the Gauchos the series win.
He followed that up with a repeat appearance in the very next game striking out the ninth against Pepperdine to earn his second career save.
Big West Preseason Poll
On February 10, 2021, the No. 8 Gauchos were picked to win the 2021 Big West Conference title in the Big West Preseason Coaches Poll. This is the first time in program history that UCSB team has topped the poll, earning 10 total first place votes and a total 119 points. It breaks a 12-year streak that was held by Cal State Fullerton.
Preseason Rankings
The Gauchos have earned Top-25 preseason rankings from several media outlets prior to Opening Day, including the program's highest-ever at No. 8.
Collegiate Baseball - #8
Perfect Game - #10
D1Baseball - #11
USA Today - #13
National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) - #14
College Baseball Nation - #17
Baseball America - #21
Run it Back
Because the NCAA allowed for all players on 2020 rosters to return for the 2021 season because of the COVID-19 cancellation, the Gauchos bring back nearly every player from a team that was 13-2 and coming off of a three-game road sweep of nationally ranked Oregon State. In addition, UCSB posted a win over No. 1 UCLA and was a perfect 5-0 against the Pac 12. The team will take an eight-game win streak into the start of 2021.
The 2020 Gauchos were led by a stellar pitching staff that sported a 1.84 team ERA, tied with Vanderbilt tops in the category on a national level.
Torra Torches
Junior lefty Zach Torra garnered a pair of preseason All-American nods in the past few months from both Collegiate Baseball and the NCBWA. These preseason awards now go on a resume that already boasts a third-team All-American award from Collegiate Baseball at the end of last season.
Torra was spectacular in his first season at UCSB. He was 3-0 in his four starts, allowing just one run in 25.1 innings for a 0.36 ERA. In fact, in his 25.1 innings, the Santa Ynez, Calif., native allowed a mere 11 hits while striking out 39, an average of 13.86 per 9.0 innings of work. Torra recorded a 0.79 WHIP. His wins came against Abilene Christian (6.0 IP, 2 hits, 1 run, 1 earned run, 13 strikeouts, 2 walks), Illinois-Chicago (7.0 IP, 2 hits, 0 runs, 12 strikeouts, 2 walks) and at Oregon State (6.1 IP, 4 hits, 0 runs, 7 strikeouts, 2 walks). His only non-decision came at Sacramento State (6.0 IP, 3 hits, 0 runs, 7 strikeouts, 3 walks).
Boone Earns Back-to-Back Preseason All-American Nods
For the second straight season, sophomore southpaw Rodney Boone has garnered preseason All-American status. This time it is Perfectgame.org that sees the Gaucho pitcher having yet another strong season listing him to the second team.
In 2020 Boone went 2-1 with a 2.53 ERA, recording 31 strikeouts in 21.1 innings. He still stands as reigning Big West Freshman of the Year after an incredible debut season in 2019 where he was named a Freshman All-American honors from Collegiate Baseball, Perfect Game and Baseball America.
McGreevy Named to USA Baseball's Golden Spikes Watch List
USA Baseball released its 55-player preseason Golden Spikes Award watch list on February 18, 2021, naming sophomore right-hander Michael McGreevy to its ranks. The Golden Spike award is given to the top amateur baseball player in the country each year. McGreevy is the first Gaucho to ever be named to the preseason list.
McGreevy, named a Freshman All-American in 2019, had a solid outing in 2020 leading the team with 27.1 innings pitched. He went 2-0 with a WHIP of 0.9523 and an ERA of 0.99 while striking out 26.
D1Baseball Preseason Power Rankings
Prior to Opening Day, D1Baseball listed several Gauchos in its preseason power rankings:
Top 150 Starting Pitchers
Michael McGreevy - #13
Zach Torra - #28
Rodney Boone - #54
Top 50 Relief Pitchers
Conner Roberts - #36
Christopher Troye - #39
D1Baseball Postseason Prediction
D1Baseball showed even more praise for this year's Gaucho team in its Preseason Field of 64, which was announced on February 18, 2021. The source predicts that the Gauchos will host a 2021 NCAA Regional as the 11th seed, with San Diego State, Arizona State, and Kent State rounding out the competition.
